Tuesday 13 July 2021

Welcome to my last blog of the 2021-22 year – and what a year it has been.  This time last year we had received the guidance from the DfE for opening the school back up for the start of the new academic year.  So much has happened in the last 12 months that we could have never predicted, and on the way there have been many highs and lows that were both rewarding and overwhelming, but writing this last blog I can say for certain that despite the many challenges MGS has become a more supportive and closer community than we already thought it was.  Feedback from parents has been tremendous; staff have stepped up and gone over and above in the daily roles; and the students have been an absolute pleasure.  Thank you to everyone who has made this year special and for bringing life back to MGS.

Last Friday we welcomed back Alex Rolfe (OM 2006 – 2013) to be guest of honour and our Lower School Speech Day.  Sadly, we had to have the event in the Hall because of the wet ground in the Quad, but that did not put a damper on the occasion.  Prize winners and Year 7 were still able to enjoy the afternoon, despite being indoors, and thank you to the students and staff who spoke on behalf of the School to reflect the last 12 months.  Friday was a good day.

Also on Friday a group of year 12 students enjoyed at afternoon of sport as they took part in a number of house competitions for their year group.  I am currently unaware of the results, but the winners for each event will have generated vital house points for their house that will contribute to the overall winners of the House Cup which will be announced at the End of Term Assembly on Friday.

Congratulations to Alex Mclauchlan of Corpus Christi House who achieved his first Dan black belt in karate.  Well done Alex, and it is so good being able to again share news like this following the year we have had.

And at the weekend a number of year 10 cadets enjoyed taking part in their condensed Summer Camp.  The School and Headmaster’s Garden were excellent venues to enjoy a variety of CCF activities.  A huge thank you to the adult volunteers who gave up their weekend to supervise.

 

 

Tuesday 6 July 2021

A huge congratulations and thank you to the staff and students who enjoyed last week’s adjusted sports days.  Due to the on-going restrictions we had to run separate year group sporting events as opposed to the usual MGS Sports Day.  Despite this though there was great fun had by all.  Thank you to Mr Terrell, the PE Department, Mr Highsted, and the all of the members of staff who made the week’s events possible.

Well done to the students from Year 10 who completed their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award assessed expedition at the weekend.  Despite the showers they thoroughly enjoyed themselves and for the first time since the restrictions were able to camp overnight.  Thank you to the staff who accompanied them led by Miss Adams and Miss Alloy.

This week we see the A-Level geographers go off site for a couple of days to complete their essential fieldwork.  Normally they would take part in a four-day field trip, but due to the restrictions they have had to complete their work much closer to home.  Let’s hope the students come back with loads of data.

This week we are also running a number of inter-house rugby competitions.  Rugby, due to its nature, has been severely impacted this year and so we are delighted to be at a point where the competitions can take place.  Year 9 played yesterday, with the other years playing later this week.  Good luck to them all.

And on Friday we recognise and acknowledge the good work put in from years 7 to 10 at the Lower School Speech Day.  Sadly, we will not be able to invite parents, governors, former staff and friends of the School to join us, but Mr Alex Rolfe (OM 2006-2013) will be in attendance as our guest of honour to congratulate the students.  Fingers crossed for some good weather so we can hold the event outside in the Quad.

Tuesday 29 June 2021

This week each year group will compete an afternoon of sport to replace the annual School Sports Day.  Sadly, due to the restrictions, we are having to run five separate sporting events in order to keep year groups in their bubbles.  The students involved are taking part in rowing, volleyball, table tennis, Frisbee, handball and badminton.  All of the sports generate house points which will be added up at the end of the day to see which house has won their year group.  Good luck to all four houses.

Also this week, due to the restrictions, we are running three open mornings for those year 11 students from other schools who wish to join the MGS Sixth Form in September.  Sadly, we were not able to have them join our own year 11 students last week for the Pre Sixth Form Induction Week, so these open mornings will hopefully go some way in sharing to the students what we do here.  Our own students will be on hand to guide them around the school.

And finally, Simon Coppard (OM 2018) took part in the Olympic Trials last Friday in Manchester.  Simon is an outstanding athlete currently studying at Loughborough University, and throughout his time at MGS his main event was 1500m; and this was the event he ran in last Friday.  We could well be seeing him at a future Olympic Games. 

Tuesday 22 June 2021

At the start of this week we welcomed Year 11 back into school to attend the Sixth Form Induction Week.  All week the students will familiarise themselves with aspects of being in the sixth form: a number of A-Level lessons, some independent work in the school library, and some free time in the sixth form common room.  It is good having them back.

This week we also see the continuation of the Year 12 UCAS exams.  Speaking to a number of the students last week the exams seem to have gone well and they were happy with what they had written.  Results will be released in the coming weeks.

And finally, congratulations to Alfred Moison of Tonbridge House who has helped write ‘In Conversation With…’: a book that explores the world of Michelin chefs, fine dining and wine making.  This is so impressive as, not only is Alfred still a student at MGS, he is only in Year 7!  Well done Alfred, and I expect more is to come from you in the future.

Tuesday 15 June 2021

Firstly, I would like to thank Samantha Croucher of College House who led the organisation for last Friday’s charity day.  The aim of the day was to raise money and awareness for Lend with Care, a charity that provides loans for small businesses in the developing world.  Students arrived in non-uniform and were met by a sweet stall at the front gate.  Later, they all enjoyed buying ice lollies in the warm weather as well as perusing through a huge collection of donated books and DVDs.  It was lovely to see a number of students with an ice lolly in one hand and a selection of books in the other.  Well done Sam; and an extended thank you to the prefect team who supported her.

Also on Friday, the out-going senior CCF cadets enjoyed a formal meal in the school refectory to acknowledge their time, celebrate their efforts and thank the many adult volunteers who support the cadets week in, week out.  It was a pleasant affair in the cooling, evening sun. 

This week is the start of a two-week period where we see Year 12 sit their UCAS exams: a set of exams across all subjects which will help teaching staff predict their students their UCAS grades.  The year group has been working hard over recent weeks, so best of luck to them all.

Tuesday 8 June 2021

Welcome back everyone to Term 6 and the final six weeks of the academic year; I hope you all had a good half term break and enjoyed the glorious weather.

The week begins with Year 12 having two days off timetable completing some essential work on the UCAS process as well as hearing about some key issues that affect teenagers and young adults.  In other parts of the school years 7, 8 and 9 begin the week completing end of year tests reviewing what they have learnt over the year and seeing what impact, if any, remote learning has had. 

In addition, on Friday we are having a non-uniform charity day to raise money and awareness for Lend with Care: a charity originating from CARE international UK which allows individuals to make small loans to individuals in developing countries so they can start their business and work their way out of poverty. It was founded in 2010 and so far, over 60,000 people have helped change the lives of those in need.  We look forward to having another charity day back at school.

Tuesday 25 May 2021

Friday last week we said goodbye to Year 13 and it was a probably the best leavers’ day in my lifetime at MGS.  Spirits amongst the year group were perfectly judged, and it was clear that the students will really miss us.  Thank you to the entire year group for being a very special bunch of people.  Good luck and best wishes to them all.

This week is a moment in the story of MGS where we turn over to a new chapter.  As we slowly progress out of lockdown and restrictions are lifted we are able to return to elements of the old MGS.  We have now gone back to a normal timetable with a single break and lunch, and now students move around the school for each of their lessons.  Measures are still in place to keep year groups in some form of bubbles, particularly during unstructured time, and students have been informed how they should move round the school in a sensible and safe manner, but the opportunity to see each other and appreciate that we are one small part in a much larger community is wonderful.

This week we also see our first ‘big event’ in the Hall to raise money for a charity we are supporting. “Lend with Care” is a charity originating from “CARE International UK”. It allows individuals to make small loans, starting at £15, to individuals in developing countries so they can start their business and work their way out of poverty.  Today we are staging a ‘Staff Wars’ event which will see staff pitted against each other in a number of different challenges.  My money is on Mr Hughes who is taking part in the Keepie Uppie Challenge against Mr Terrell.  I would like to thank the group of business studies students, led by Samantha Croucher of College House, who has organised the event. 

Tuesday 18 May 2021

This week is the last week for Year 13.  For many of them they have been at MGS for seven years, so Leavers’ Day on Friday will be a bitter-sweet occasion.  Before that though they have their final assessments to complete.  Good luck to them all, and I look forward to the Leavers’ Assembly on Friday where I am sure there will be tears.

This week we are also putting together the final touches to our new arrangements that will be in place from Monday 24 May.  From next Monday, we are adjusting a number of measures that we have had inn place all year to return the school to some form of normality.  Teachers will be teaching in their own classrooms, students will travel around the site to get to their lessons, and we go back to having a single break and single lunch during the day.  This is something to be looking forward to.

Congratulations to College House who won the first ever inter-house netball tournament.  Year 12 students took part in this high-spirited event which saw both boys and girls play together.  It is always fun watching the boys try and bring the rules of basketball into the game!  Thank you to Mr Hughes, Mr Highsted, Miss Wilson, Miss Dimmick and Mrs Coveney for supporting.

I wish to acknowledge the many students I see every day bring their cricket kit to school to take part in our after school cricket clubs.  Thanks to Mr Davies, Mr Calvert, Mr Rivers and Mr Johnston the profile of cricket has drastically increased across all age groups.  It is so good to see many students take part and see them using our new cricket nets alongside the all-weather.

Tuesday 11 May 2021

We start the week with one fewer year group in school.  Year 11 left last Friday after finishing all of their final assessments, and now they have gone the focus for the next two weeks will be on Year 13 and ensuring they do as well as they can in their final assessments.  This is their last push so good luck to them all.

Much of the work over the next couple of weeks will be to prepare the students and staff for Monday 24 May: the day when we return to our normal timetable and to when teachers teach in their own subject areas and classrooms.  Since September teachers have been moving around the school site, teaching their classes in year group zones.  But with fewer students in school from Monday 24 Monday we are going to be moving to a point where students move around the site and have their lessons taught in departmental areas. Certain precautionary measures will be put in place to minimise risk, but this is something we have been looking forward to for a while.  It illustrates a big step forward to normality.

Tuesday 4 May 2021

Firstly, welcome back following the long weekend.  The May Day Bank Holiday weekend has always been my favourite bank holiday weekend of the year, and with the good weather, particularly on Saturday, it made for a pleasant extra break in the middle of a busy term.

Last week we enjoyed the last three inter-house football tournaments for years 7, 8 and 9.  Like all of the others they were strongly contested and played in good spirits. Congratulations to Barton House for winning both A and B competitions in Year 9; to Corpus Christi and College houses in Year 8; and Corpus Christi and Barton houses in Year 7.  All of these results get plugged into the overall House Cup Competition that will be awarded at the end of the academic year.  Thank you once again to the PE Department and to Mr Highsted for overseeing the events.

This week we welcome back Year 13 for their last three weeks of school.  During that time they will complete essential final assessments in each of their subjects before jetting off for a long summer holiday.  The hard work is not yet over, but some light at the end of the tunnel is slowly becoming visible. 

We also say goodbye this week to Year 11 who have come to the end of their time at MGS (for the moment).  They will complete all assessments by Friday and then leave having 17 weeks of holiday ahead of them!  Use it wisely, boys.

Finally, Haydn Price of Year 13 will be doing a 1.4 mile open-water swim in the Bournemouth 'Pier to Pier' on Saturday 3 July.  Haydn has started training, and gratefully welcomes donations towards the British Heart Foundation here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/haydn-price1?experiments=b2c_054_show_hide_fitness_totaliser%2Cb2c_059_donate_to_yourself_v3&isMobile=true&successType=StaticDonateButtonClick